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Transportation

Thursday, January 29, 2026·48m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Virginia House Transportation Committee advanced the vast majority of bills on its agenda with lopsided or unanimous votes, while sending HB 545 (motorcycle driver improvement clinics) back to subcommittee for further analysis and continuing HB 219 to the 2027 session. The lone contested moment came on HB 649, where a statewide sign-removal bill was narrowed via substitute to Planning District 23 to resolve a member's objections, ultimately passing 16 to 2.

Key Actions

·HB 57 – Emergency Medical Services Vehicle Fee FundsNo Vote

+ 15 more actions

Controversies

HB 649 – Statewide scope vs. Planning District 23 limitation for sign removal bill

Delegate Dalia argued that the bill as drafted was statewide and recommended the patron limit it to the relevant planning district, stating: 'I had some concerns with this BLS drafted and I had suggested or recommended that we make it that the patron make it pertaining specifically to that planning district. I understand his concerns. I think his concerns are very legitimate. But this is a statewide bill and I don't.' Delegate Hayes responded that he had been in conversations with counsel and was narrowing the bill via substitute to Planning District 23. After the substitute was adopted, Delegate Dalia reversed his position entirely, saying: 'I owe the patron an apology. Thank you. I will be supporting the bill now. I apologize.'

+ 1 more controversy

Notable Quotes

“I think we've got everybody, the truckers association, state police, and everyone who's involved in agreement with this legislation now. So I say there's peace in the valley, and I would ask that the committee approve the bill with the changes of the language within.”

Delegate Austin — Delegate Austin, patron of HB 788 allowing towing operators to receive copies of state police accident reports, described the broad stakeholder support secured after negotiations over a substitute amendment.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 57Passed
Adopt committee amendment for HB 94Passed
Report HB 94 with amendments and refer to appropriationsPassed
Continue HB 219 to the 2027 sessionPassed
Report HB 498Passed
Refer HB 545 back to subcommitteePassed
Report HB 559Passed
Report HB 570Passed
Report HB 586Passed
Adopt subcommittee amendments for HB 608Passed
Report HB 608 with amendmentsPassed
Adopt amendment in the nature of substitute for HB 788Passed
Report HB 788 with substitutePassed
Adopt substitute for HB 88Passed
Report HB 88 with substitute and refer to appropriationsPassed
Adopt amendment for HB 141Passed
Report HB 141 with amendmentsPassed
Adopt substitute for HB 330Passed
Report HB 330 with substitute and refer to appropriations (initial vote)Passed
Reconsider vote on HB 330Passed
Report HB 330 with substitute (without appropriations referral, after reconsideration)Passed
Report HB 411 and refer to appropriationsPassed
Adopt amendments for HB 446Passed
Report HB 446 with amendmentsPassed
Adopt initial amendment for HB 649Passed
Adopt substitute limiting HB 649 to Planning District 23Passed
Report HB 649 with substitutePassed
Report HB 943Passed
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TranscriptPreview
Good morning, everyone. House Transportation Committee will come to order and the clerk will open the roll for attendance, please. And the clerk will close a roll. We have a quorum. All right. Well, good morning, everyone. Thanks for being with us this morning. To begin our meeting, I will turn over for our subcommittee reports. And we will begin with our Department of Motor Vehicle subcommittee chaired by delegate Brianna Sewell. So, Chair Sewell, if you would like to begin your report. Thank you, Madam Chair. We'll start off with House Bill 57, patron by delegate Fagans. House Bill 57 expands the permitted use of funds returned to locality from certain vehicle fees to include the purchase or maintenance of necessary equipment, supplies, facilities and vehicles permitted by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and other operating expenses. The subcommittee. Under current law, such funds may be used for the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies for use in the locality for emergency medical services provided by nonprofit emergency medical service agencies. Madam Chair, the subcommittee recommends reporting on a vote of 10 to 0. And I so move. Second. So moved and seconded to report the bill. The…
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